Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Regiment:

    353d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    November 2, 1918

    War Department, General Orders 89 (1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Leo Louis Sandman (ASN: 2212260), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 353d Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Bois-de-Barricourt, France, November, 2, 1918. Private Sandman, with a comrade, advanced as a scout across an open space which was covered by heavy machine-gun fire from the enemy. This advance was made in order to locate the position of the enemy machine-guns and draw their attention, while the rest of the platoon advanced on the flanks. Private Sandman signaled the location of the German guns to his comrades; and, he had advanced more than 200 yards through the murderous fire, when he was killed.